Casares
- Shortboard, Longboard
- Best for
- Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Ocean
- Spot Type
- Quiet
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Casares is an exposed beach-break spot in the Pacific region of San Rafael del Sur, known for generally reliable surf and NE offshore winds that help keep conditions groomed. The break offers both lefts and rights and is typically most user-friendly when the swell is in a workable range (with peaks described around 3–5 ft in one guide, and ability to reach much larger conditions during peak periods). Surf is described as peeling and best at low tide, though it can work across all tides. The spot’s wave character can include submerged reef sections while still being characterized as a sandy, soft beach for walking/landing areas. For swell direction, south-to southwest groundswells are highlighted as the most effective, aligning with the general southwest-facing exposure of this coastline stretch. Safety is a key part of the local conditions: hazards include rocks and rip currents. Because it is a working fishing village, there may also be fishing boat traffic and fishing nets near shore. It’s recommended to avoid surfing in the direct paths of boats launching/landing and to be mindful of where nets are set/dragged along the shoreline. Overall crowding is typically low-profile, with relatively few surfers even on good days. The spot is broadly associated with July as a standout month at spot-level, while regional context notes strongest wind/offshore patterns during the dry season; seasonal water temperatures are warm year-round and wetsuit guidance suggests minimal thermal protection for most of the year.
- Exposed beach break with both left and right waves
- NE offshore winds for cleaner conditions
- Best at low tide
- Low-profile reputation with relatively few surfers even on good days
- Submerged reef influence to shape the peaks
- Exposed beach-break surf with both left and right options.
- Good offshore grooming with NE winds; winds are described as reliable/fairly consistent.
- Best suited for intermediate surfers seeking dependable, user-friendly waves at low tide.
- Generally relatively few surfers even on good days (low-profile reputation).
- Rocks near/at the break and around launch area sections.
- Rip currents present.
- Working fishing-village conditions (boat traffic and fishing nets near shore).
- Crowds can increase in summer according to one guide, even though the spot is generally low-profile.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- NE
- Offshore directions
- NE
- Wind Range
- 15–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Trade — Offshore trade-wind pattern associated with the Papagayo jet (strong offshore winds during the dry season).
- Reliability
- high during the dry season; fairly consistent at spot-level
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts
- Best Months
- July
- Thermal Window
- Other · Afternoon · Months: Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov · Dir: N, NNE, NE, ENE, E, ESE, SE, SSE, S, SSW, SW, WSW, W, WNW, NW, NNW · Dry-season winds described as strongest day and night; a stated afternoon thermal window is noted for the wider Managua Coast context.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Ocean
- Beach
- Sand — Beach composition described as sand by one source; another guide describes mixed beach.
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Flat — One guide describes typical conditions as user-friendly around 3–5 ft, but the spot can reach much larger sizes in peak periods.
- Launch
- Medium — Sandy beach with rocky sections and fishing boat launch areas.
- Launch Difficulty
- Moderate — Sandy beach mixed with rocky sections and fishing boat launch areas.
Through the year
Relatively few surfers on good days; summer can be pretty crowded.
Wet season is May to October (heaviest rainfall typically in September and October).
By sport
What to expect for each.
Exposed beach break with submerged reef sections and both left and right waves. Works on all tides but is best at low tide.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- S, SSW, SW
- Swell Height
- 1–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Low
- Shelter
- Exposed
- Wind Effect
- Favors NE offshore winds that help groom cleaner, offshore conditions.
- Bigger Swell
- Can hold size and produce overhead waves and regular barrels during strong SW swells; on very large swells it can become heavy and close out.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Average to good; described as user-friendly when the swell is in the 3–5 ft range.
- Wave Power
- Moderate
- Wave Shape
- Peeling
- Peel Speed
- Medium
- Ride Length
- Medium — Typically medium; can connect longer during the right swell and tide.
- Ride Length Details
- Shorter beach-break peak rides are common, but longer connections are possible during suitable swell/tide combinations.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Casares in the full forecast view.
Casares wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 3–9 ktsGusts 19 kts
- Direction
- ENE74°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 249 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 1.0–1.3 m12s period
- Temperature
- 25–33 °C
Over the next 7 days, Casares is forecast for daytime winds of 3–9 kts, peaking around 9 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 19 kts. The prevailing direction is ENE. Waves run 1.0–1.3 m with a period of about 12s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- Rocks
- Rip currents
- Fishing boat traffic
- Fishing nets
Rescue & support
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — No formal formal coastguard rescue service on the wider coastline; safety depends on local resources.
- Emergency Info
- General emergency services can be reached at 911; comprehensive hospitals are approximately 1 to 1.5 hours away in Managua.
- Localism / Vibe
- None — Spot-level indicates no strong localism; broader guidance describes it as mild.
Rules of the spot
Deposit trash properly; do not throw bottles, cigarette ends, plastic bags, fruit peels, or any liquids into the sea.
- Avoid surfing directly in the paths of launching and landing fishing boats.
- Drink lots of water due to exhaustion and dehydration risks.
- Respect the fishing village and its equipment.
- Avoid surfing directly in the paths of launching and landing fishing boats.
- Low tide is generally preferred to keep the waves from becoming too soft.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- San Rafael del Sur
- Nearest Town
- San Rafael del Sur
- Nearest Airport
- Augusto C. Sandino International Airport (MGA)
- Parking
- Limited parking available near the beach and fishing village area.
- Public Transport
- Accessible from Managua via regular interurban microbuses and taxis (about 60–90 minutes).
- Access
- Located about 73.6 km from Managua on the Pacific; travel via private vehicle or public transport to Diriamba, then take the road toward the beach. At the rotunda (empalme), turn left for Casares.
- Cost Level
- Budget
- Local Language
- Spanish
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Basic guesthouses and local lodging are available in the village and nearby La Boquita.
- Food & Drink
- Several local seafood restaurants (comedores) are located along the beachfront.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Casares?
The best overall months at Casares are April, May, June, July, August, September. The best wind months are July.
Which wind directions work at Casares?
Casares works with NE winds. Offshore directions are NE.
What skill level is Casares suitable for?
Casares suits these riding levels: Surfing: Intermediate.